Water shoes are prone to getting stinky, which eventually makes them uncomfortable to wear for the next time. Get a step-by-step guide to thoroughly wash swim shoes, deodorize and dry them in the most effective way possible.
Swim shoes are usually made up of neoprene and rubber, which attracts tiny organisms and fungus to attach themselves to your shoes after prolonged use. While you may not be able to smell it for the first few days, it starts to get annoying when you realize you can’t clean them just like your regular shoes.
However, the secret here lies in the initial cleaning and drying that makes all the difference. So what is it, you may ask?
Well, let’s find out
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What You Will Need
Well, going to the beach without your swim shoes is a no-no, so you can’t just rely on any other pair of shoes for that matter. Okay, let’s be honest here. What you are going to read right now may sound daunting or even a hassle at first. Once you get a hold of it and find out a way to prevent odor in the first place, it can make the cleaning process a lot easier.
- A pair of dirty shoes
- Lukewarm tap water
- Shampoo/hand wash/dish soap
- Sponge
- Blow drier
- Baking soda
- Newspaper
Got all the materials? Let’s get started!
Step by Step Instructions
Unfortunately, when your shoes already start to smell, it takes longer to fix the problem. There is a lot more to it than just throwing them into the washing machine or perhaps soaking them into the water to get the best results.
Here is a full step-by-step process of how you can instantly wash your swim shoes easily at home.
Step 1
Once you are done for the day, please remove your shoes immediately to make sure you don’t further increase the allergies and fungus to make it harder for you to clean up.
Step 2
Now loosen all the velcro or rubber fasteners which will make it easier to carry out the process. You can then soak your swim shoes in lukewarm water for 20 minutes to ensure all the dirt and bacteria on the surface have been completely washed off. Bear in mind, the temperature of the water plays a big role here.
Another thing you can do here to add a deodorizer solution to a bucket and leave your shoes for a while. This will not only get rid of the odor but will kill the enzymes that are causing bacteria and fungus.
Step 3
This is where you actually start to clean the shoes.
Add some handwash, shampoo, or dish soap (whatever is available) into a damped sponge to ensure you get the right results. Later, thoroughly go through each section of your swim shoes to get every last bit out.
You can also go a step further and use an old toothbrush to get into tiny corners or other inaccessible places like the shoe’s inner tip. Don’t worry about rubbing it too harshly since everything must have been softened by the time it has been soaked for 20 minutes.
Some people also like to sprinkle a little baking soda into the water to get maximum results. This is because baking soda is a mild alkali that can cause dirt and morse. It also does this by bringing the acidic and basic odor molecules into an odor-free state.
You can get an for this since many people also use baking soda for cleaning kitchen appliances and other stubborn stains.
Step 4
When you are done with the scrubbing process, it’s time to use a newspaper or paper cloth to rub off all the excess water and make it look relatively clean. Remember, this isn’t the only thing you need to do to make your swim shoes look nice and dry.
This is only needed to make sure you have no soap left in the shoe. Indeed leftover soap contains the same bacteria, which can eventually meet up with newer ones during the process to leave your shoes smelly by the end of your cleaning.
Step 5
This is the time when you try to permanently get rid of the odor that is ruining your favorite swim shoes in the first palace.
After you are done with the cleaning process, take your shoes out under the sun to dry each of them. You can also opt for Sweat X Sports Extreme Odor Spray, which actually eliminates the smell instead of covering it up to give you long-lasting results. If this is not your bet, many people also rave about LamFun Shoe Odor Eliminator’s incredible results in Lavender essential oil.
It uses eco-friendly amino acid deodorants with other powerful yet safe ingredients to gently reach the areas where you never thought could affect the fragrance of your shoe. It is also quite gentle on your skin, allowing you even to spray a little on your feet. Thanks to its safe ingredients, it is suitable to be used on children’s sensitive skin.
It applies evenly and dries super fast, all while allowing you to use it about 500 times per bottle; how amazing is that!
Many people make a common mistake that alleviates the smell of their shoes when they place their swim shoes inside bags to make them even damper and humidified. Once you start doing this, you will instantly see unprecedented results in the smell of your shoe.
Step 6
Now they are properly clean; it’s time to dry them up.
One of the things that you need to bear in mind before you start the drying process is to understand that water shoes take a lot of time to dry. If you quickly use a hairdryer, there are chances that it only dries the upper layer while leaving the inner parts unclean and wet to allow it to leech onto more bacteria.
To make sure you understand this well, let me break down the concepts for you. In general, neoprene shoes have a narrow opening. Which not only lacks breathability, but the germs for your wet feet keep building up inside your shoes.
Since there is relatively less space for ventilation, even the cleanest shoes are prone to getting dirty and thus cause unbearable odor. Not just that, there are also some extreme cases where leaving swim shoes unclean can also make you prone to foot diseases and fungus to take a serious turn with just one single problem.
Therefore, it is recommended to take your time always to dry your shoes after every use to prevent odor and moisture in the first place. The best way to do this is to either, as mentioned above, dry under the sun or air them out with a blow dryer for around some solid minutes.
It is always a good idea to do it as you use it, but if you already happen to leave them dirty and are now stinking, you can carry out the cleaning process and dry them properly to get rid of all the moisture that is causing all the trouble.
To speed up the process, always stuff a rag, hand towel, or newspaper first soak away the water from your shoe. Besides that, here are few other things you can do to dry your swim shoes easily effectively.
- Please leave them in the fresh air for a day or two, depending on the material of your shoe.
- Use a fan or hairdryer, which is quick but maybe an expensive option since it takes a lot of time to dry, which inevitably increases your electricity bill.
- Use a dry sheet to absorb most of the bacterias.
- Avoid placing them in damp places, which can make the odor worse
Another important thing to note is to never wear your shoes right after cleaning them. Even if they have been properly dried, I’d recommend you leave them for a day to ensure there are no bacterias left to cause this problem again.
Conclusion
Now that we have come to the end of the guide, I’m sure you are perfectly aware of how to wash swim shoes easily that will last for a long period of time. However, this only when you decide to stay committed to the maintenance of your shoes.
Why would you make so much effort?
Because at the end of the day, it will totally be worth it once you start to notice the e-needed support and protection swim shoes provide to keep your feet healthy at all times.
So soak your shoes in lukewarm water and place them indoors for the sun after every use. The only thing to avoid is never to put them in a plastic maker since the humidity can allow them to accumulate more bacteria and make it harder to clean.
Once you have excelled in this routine, you are all set to enjoy any water-related activity without having to embrace yourself in front of your friends and family.
